Future King shares personal experience during emotional visit to bereavement charity
Prince William has spoken candidly about coping with grief, reflecting on his own loss as he met with young people navigating bereavement during a visit to Child Bereavement UK.
During the engagement, the Prince of Wales sat down with children who had lost parents and grandparents, including a girl who was the same age as he was when his mother, Princess Diana, passed away.
Acknowledging the emotional challenges that come with loss, William emphasized the importance of early support. “It’s crucial for those first few years, particularly, that you have support like this,” he said.
He highlighted the value of structured guidance, including regular meetings and personal support workers, explaining that such resources help young people “practise how to help yourself.”
William also spoke about the difficulty of expressing emotions while grieving, admitting: “Finding the words for how you actually feel” can be one of the hardest aspects of the process.
"The mind gets focused on one thing, doesn’t it? It’s very difficult to do school and normal life," he added.
During his visit, William joined a group of teenagers creating memory jars filled with colored salt to honor their loved ones. He also met with fundraisers, staff, and bereavement counsellors, including 16-year-old amateur boxer Clayton Wilson, whom he jokingly admitted would outmatch him in the ring.
“I don’t mind throwing a few punches around in the boxing ring, but probably not at your level,” William quipped, adding that after “half an hour of pounding away” his arms would be “too tired.”
After hearing from bereavement counsellors, some of whom shared their own experiences of loss, William emphasized the importance of empathy in grief support.
"It’s essential to feel a connection,” he noted. “You need a bit of understanding. It can’t be too clinical.”
His heartfelt visit underscored the Prince’s commitment to ensuring young people facing loss receive the guidance and emotional support they need.
